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Important Questions Class 6 English A Pact With The Sun Chapter 4

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Important Questions Class 6 English A Pact With The Sun Chapter 4

Ever wondered how kindness can solve even the toughest situations? In Important Questions Class 6 English A Pact With The Sun Chapter 4, you'll step into “The Old Clock Shop” and discover a heartwarming story about help, trust, and changing hearts, all set on a snowy Christmas Eve. This chapter gives you more than just a story – it teaches valuable life lessons that you’ll remember for a long time.


If you ever get confused while preparing, the detailed questions and answers here will clear all your doubts. You can also find handy study aids like the full Class 6 English Syllabus on Vedantu. Plus, the free PDF download means you can revise anytime, anywhere!


Make your exam revision easy by using these chapter-wise questions, designed by experts. Want to practice more? Check out even more Class 6 English Important Questions and give your preparation a boost.


Study Important Questions For Class 6 English A Pact with The Sun Chapter 4—The Old-Clock Shop

A. Very Short Answer Questions: 1 Mark

i. Deaf

Ans: A person who cannot hear

ii. Restless 

Ans: Uneasy

iii. Pawnbroker

Ans: A person who gives a loan in exchange for a valuable kept as security 

iv. Goodwill 

Ans: Friendly 


2. Fill in the blanks.

i. As _____ we're going home, a thick, white sheet of snow layover Salt Lake City, USA. 

Ans: last-minute shoppers

ii. The lights were still burning in the _____. 

Ans: old-clock shop

iii. The older man approached the counter with _____ in his eyes. 

Ans: no sign of friendliness

iv. Ray noticed _____ in the grey eyes looking at him. 

Ans: A little shame


3. True – False. 

i. The owner of the shop was a young, healthy man.

Ans: False

ii. The owner loaned money to the shoppers by keeping gold as collateral. 

Ans: False

iii. Two men, both young, came to buy something from the shop.

Ans: False

iv. The owner loaned him 50 dollars and kept his watch. 

Ans: True


4. Match the following.

                      Column I 

                        Column II

i) Christmas Eve

a) Old and deaf

ii) New Year’s Eve

b) Shopkeeper of the Old-clock shop

iii) Ray was a

c) 31 December

iv) The shopkeeper was

d) 24 December

Ans:  

Column I

Column II

i) Christmas Eve

d) 24 December

ii) New Year’s Eve

c) 31 December

iii) Ray was a

b) Shopkeeper of the Old-clock shop

iv) The shopkeeper was

a) old and deaf


5. In which country and city is the story based?

Ans: The story is based in Salt Lake City in the United States of America.


B. Short Answer Questions: 2 Marks

1. Describe the owner of the shop.

Ans: The owner of the shop was old, weak and deaf but he helped others.


2. What was the owner doing on Christmas Eve?

Ans: On Christmas evening the owner of the shop was working on the clock that he sold on that day.


3. What happened after he was finished working?

Ans: After finishing his work, Ray stood up and was on his way to the back room. The back of his neck was hit by a cool surge of air from the front door.


4. What did he see on turning back?

Ans: On turning back, he saw a last-minute shopper. But then he told himself that he was not a shopper. He then noticed two males, one in his twenties and the other in his fifties. The younger man remained at the door. With no hint of kindness in his gaze, the older man approached the counter.


5. What sort of thing did Ray see in the old man’s pocket?

Ans: In the old man’s pocket, Ray saw an object which looked like a gun.


C. Short Answer Questions: 3 Marks

1. Why did two men come to Ray’s shop?

Ans:  The two men came to Ray’s shop as they were in need of money. They thought of taking the cash by force as Ray was all alone. But then they changed their mind and they got to know he was weak and deaf.


2. If Ray was deaf, how did he communicate with his visitors?

Ans: Ray was deaf but he could write and read. He had a notepad where he wrote and communicated with visitors. Ray inquired about the shoppers’ needs and in reply, the shoppers also wrote and let him know.


3. Why did Ray lend money to people in exchange for old watches and clocks?

Ans: Ray was not a pawnbroker. He was a kind-hearted man. He could not say ‘No’ to the needy people who placed their old watches or clocks before him for anything they could get. He helped them as much as possible and paid them more than their watch was worth.


4. Why was the other man waiting outside the door?

Ans: The other man was waiting outside the door because they had come with wrong and mischievous attention. They come to loot the shop of the old Ray. One of the men also had a thing that looked like a gun in his coat’s pocket. They thought of taking the cash forcefully. 


5. Why did the man become friendly suddenly?

Ans: The man became friendly suddenly because the old man asked the man whether he was there to pick watches and clocks. He then pointed to the loan banner. The men understood that the old man also provided loans and so he could also get. The man then gave his watch and asked the old man to keep it until he returned the money.


D. Long Answer Questions: 5 Marks

1. Describe Ray’s character.

Ans: Ray was an old and deaf shop owner. He had his own shop of clocks and watches. He communicates with his visitor using a notepad and pen. He can read and write. He was wise. When he saw the gun in the man’s coat pocket, he grew angry but cooled himself. He was helpful to everyone, even to the men who visited his shop to loot it. He overpaid people for things that are not even worth getting a single amount.


2. Describe the character of the other old man in the story.

Ans: The old man seems to be in his fifties. He visited the clock shop when it was about to close. He was unfriendly. He visited there with an intention to loot the shop. The men also had a gun. When he got to know that the old man was deaf, he turned to another person who was standing at the door and murmured something. On asking what he needs, He asked for a loan and gives his watch to old men until he returns the money.


3. Was the watch worth fifty dollars? Give a reason for your answer.

Ans: No, the watch was not worth fifty dollars. But Ray gave that amount because he realized that the man desperately is in need of money. The old man understands as the man comes to the shop late on Christmas Eve with a gun in his pocket. Ray was a helpful man and he always helped others who were in need of help.


4. Write the summary of the story “The Old-Clock Shop”.

Ans: The old man named Ray had a clock shop in Salt Lake City of the U.S. The man was deaf but very wise and helpful. Christmas Eve had arrived and the last-minute shoppers were going home. But the old man was working on the clock he sold that day only. He rose up and was on his way to the backroom after finishing his work when a cold surge of air from the front entrance smacked the back of his neck. He turned to meet the last-minute shopper but he was not alone. There was another boy who was in his twenties standing at the door. The old man wrote in the notepad asking what he needed. The man turned to another man and then they had a murmur for some time. The old man again wrote whether they were there to pick clocks and watches. The old man then shows the loan board holder, indicating that he also provides a loan. The old man gave fifty dollars in exchange for a watch which was not worth that amount. The man then asked to keep the watch with himself until he returned the money.


5. What would you do if you were Ray and the robbers approached you?

Ans: If I was Ray and the robbers approached me, I would have panicked at that moment. Maybe I cried out in that situation. But first, if the robbers visited my shop in disguise then I would ask what they wanted. If I could identify them then I would react normally and not express my fear. But whatever Ray did was a reflection of a young man.


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FAQs on Important Questions Class 6 English A Pact With The Sun Chapter 4

1. Why were the lights still on in Ray’s old clock shop on Christmas Eve?

The lights were still on in the old clock shop late on Christmas Eve because Ray, the old, deaf owner, was working on a clock. Even though it was late and other shops had closed, he was busy with his work, which set the stage for the unexpected arrival of two visitors.

2. How did Ray know that the visitors were not genuine customers but were in need of money?

Ray understood the visitors' true intentions through his keen observation, despite being deaf. He noticed several important clues: their arrival at a very late hour, the younger man staying at the door as a lookout, and the older man's unfriendly and cold eyes. He sensed their desperation and concluded they were there not to buy anything but to get money, possibly by force.

3. What is the central message or moral that a student should understand from the chapter 'The Old Clock Shop'?

The central message of the story is that peace, kindness, and empathy are more powerful tools than anger or violence. For exams, it's important to highlight that:

  • A calm and wise approach can defuse a tense and dangerous situation.
  • Communication and understanding can bridge gaps, even without spoken words.
  • Generosity and goodwill can transform an enemy into a friend, turning a potential conflict into a moment of shared humanity.

4. What was the symbolic importance of all the clocks chiming together at the end of the story?

The simultaneous chiming of the clocks at midnight was highly symbolic. It represented a universal message of 'Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards all'. This musical harmony breaking the silence right after a tense situation was resolved peacefully served to underline the story's theme. It was as if time itself was celebrating Ray's act of kindness and the peaceful outcome.

5. How does Ray's deafness play a crucial role in how the story unfolds?

Ray's deafness is a key plot element that shapes the entire interaction. It prevents a heated verbal exchange and any spoken threats. The visitors are forced to communicate by writing on a notepad, which slows down the pace and neutralises their aggression. This disability ironically empowers Ray, allowing his calm, observant, and kind nature to control the situation, rather than being overwhelmed by fear or intimidation.

6. For a 3-mark question, describe the character traits that make Ray from 'The Old Clock Shop' an inspiring figure.

Ray is an inspiring character due to his remarkable qualities. Key traits to mention in an answer would be:

  • Perceptive and Wise: He accurately judged the visitors' intentions without hearing a word.
  • Calm and Composed: He remained unruffled and did not panic in a potentially dangerous situation.
  • Kind and Generous: Instead of being defensive, he showed compassion and offered the men money generously for an ordinary watch.
These qualities show that true strength lies in wisdom and kindness, not physical power.

7. How does the story 'The Old Clock Shop' show that kindness can be a more effective response to hostility than fear?

The story perfectly illustrates this idea. The visitors arrived with unfriendly, hostile intentions. A fearful response might have escalated the situation. However, Ray chose an unexpected response: proactive kindness. By treating the men with respect and offering them a generous sum of money ($50), he addressed their underlying need. This act of compassion disarmed the visitor, replacing his coldness with a moment of genuine, albeit brief, connection. The story proves that goodwill can effectively neutralise a threat where fear would likely fail.